Local runners tackle the Knacker

Five runners break course record on muggy epic

The Half Knacker, a 25 kilometre trail race thats half the distance of the infamous Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run, took place with a record field of 344 racers on Sunday.

The course was extremely challenging, with several long uphills on logging roads, and technical singletrack sections from the start at the base of Grouse Mountain, the halfway point for the actual Knee Knacker, and the finish line at Panorama Park in Deep Cove. Rather than follow the actual Knacker course, the half-knacker followed another, slightly easier route because of the large number of participants.

But while the course included a lot less singletrack, the climbs were just as punishing  maybe even worse as some sections climbed relentlessly without any flat sections.

But if the course was tough, the field was even tougher with five competitors breaking the Half Knacker record set by Whistler Secondary teacher Kevin Titus on the previous course  including Titus himself.

Colin Dignum of West Vancouver was the top racer, finishing the route in one hour, 35 minutes and three seconds to win the $1,000 first prize. Simon Driver of Vancouver was second in 1:36:10, and Ryan Bremner of Port Moody third in 1:38:29.

The top female racer was Katrina Blanch of Vancouver who was 29
th
overall in 1:53:25. Claire Townsend of Victoria was second in 1:58:21, and Heidi Collins third in 2:02:45.

From Sea to Sky, Pembertons Kevin Titus was fifth overall in 1:39:49, and first in the mens 40 to 49 category.

Gary Robbins of Whistler was ninth overall and fourth out of 25 racers in the mens Under 30 group with a time of 1:44:04.

Sean Wolfe of Mt. Currie was 14
th
overall and second to Titus in the 40 to 49 race in 1:47:08.

Whistlers Duncan Munro was 16
th
overall and ninth in the mens 30 to 39 group in 1:47:18.

Mark Fearman of Whistler was 23
rd
overall and ninth in the Under 30 group in 1:40:40.

John Hall of Whistler was 87
th
overall in 2:11:00.

Shelley Webster was 15
th
among women and sixth in the 30 to 39 group in 2:14:40.

Scott Whelan was 127
th
overall in 2:18:14.

Tammy Shore of Pemberton was 24
th
among women and ninth in the Womens Under 30 category in 2:19:09.

Whistlers Esther Speck was 43
rd
among women and 18
th
in the 30 to 39 group in 2:25:09.

Vincent Hoog of Squamish was 17
th
in 2:26:15.

Georgina Titus of Pemberton was 200
th
overall, 57
th
among women and 18
th
in the womens 40 to 49 group in 2:31:20.

Lesley Birtles of Whistler was 112
th
among women in 2:52:07.

Complete results for the Half Kacker, and registration for the full Knee Kancker, is available at www.ironlung.ca.